Imatges de pàgina
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Was there no other design of God's judgments upon them, but their utter ruin, and irremediable downfall? Mn yεVOLTO He answers, "God forbid :" no such thing:-but this was all in order to the accomplishment of a scheme of the most wonderful and comprehensive goodness: for,

FIRST of all, the rejection of the Gospel by the Jews (which was the cause of their own rejection by God,) was the means of salvation to the Gentiles; through the offer of the Gospel to them, and their embracing it:

xi. 11. αλλα TW αυτών παραπτωματι n σωτηρία τοις έθνεσιν.

"But rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles."

THEN Secondly, the fulness of the Gentiles, or their general acceptance of the Gospel, is one of God's remedies for the obduracy of the Jews; ELS TO Tαpainλwoai aures, ver. 11. by provoking them to jealousy and emulation; and so to a desire of regaining their antient state of favour with

God. (See ver. 11. 14. 25, 26. 31. And compare Deut. xxxii. 21.)

AND thirdly, when the Conversion and Restoration of the Jews (which is here expressly foretold, ver. 25-29.) shall have taken place, it will prove a great revival of the genuine spirit of Christianity among the Gentiles, and be the means of converting the whole world :

xi. 12. 15. ει δε το παραπτωμα αυτων, &c.

"Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them be the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness ?-For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead?"

UPON this view therefore of the matter, the Gentile Converts have no reason to despise the Jews, as outcasts from God's favour: but rather they have great reason to take warning by this sad downfall of the Jews, and the occasion of it; and to look to the sincerity and stability of their

own faith (ver. 17-20.) for as the Rejection of the Jews is not irrevocable, so neither is the Calling of the Gentiles: the Jews, upon their conversion, shall be restored; the Gentiles, in case of apostasy, shall be cut off :

xi. 21-23. ει γαρ

ὁ θεος των κατα φυσιν κλαδων, &c.

"For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God; on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness; if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.".

FINALLY, upon a review of this wonderful and complicated scheme of Divine Goodness, for the redemption and happiness of all his rational creatures, both Jews and Gentiles, he breaks out into that rapturous exclamation:

xi. 33. Ω βάθος πλέτε και σοφίας και γνώσεως Θε8,

&c.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!"

Acknowledging and professing his wisdom and goodness to be such, as neither man nor angel can either fathom, or sufficiently reverence and adore.

xi. 36. Αυτῳ ἡ δόξα εις τες αιώνας Αμην.

"To whom be glory for ever. Amen."

In these three Chapters, therefore, viz. the 9th, 10th, and 11th, the Apostle has kept close to his subject; the two parts of which were,

1. To shew the efficacy of the Gospel to salvation, in opposition to the Law:

2. To establish the right of the Gentiles to the Gospel-salvation, in opposition to the exclusive claim of the Jew:

THE former of these is distinctly insisted upon, x. 3-10. where he is treating of the cause of the fatal miscarriage of the Jews :

AND with respect to the latter, (not to mention its being virtually included in the whole part concerning the Rejection of the Jews,) we need only call to mind the following points in each of these Chapters, viz.

Chapter ix. 10-16. The Divine Justice, in taking in the Gentiles to be his people, is vindicated:

Chapter x. 11-18. The benefit of Christ's redemption is proved to belong to all, Gentiles as well as Jews; and the mission of the Apostles to the Gentiles is vindicated:

Chapter xi. 11, &c. The merciful plan of God's Providence, in rejecting the Jews, and taking in the Gentiles, is illustrated.

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